Gary Lineker leaves fans baffled after claiming Euro 2024 qualification system is ‘flawed’, as Ukraine create history with their group-stage exit

Gary Lineker has left fans baffled after claiming the Euro 2024 qualification system is ‘flawed’ following Ukraine’s exit from the tournament.

Ukraine held Belgium to a 0-0 draw on Wednesday evening, while the other game in Group E saw Slovakia and Romania play out a 1-1 stalemate.

Those results meant all four teams finished on four points, but Ukraine crashed out due to their inferior goal difference. Other teams who have finished with fewer than four points are set to progress to the last-16, and Lineker claimed Ukraine had been very unfortunate as he called for the current system to be re-assessed.

‘Well, Belgium have got themselves through but you feel for Ukraine,’ he said after the final whistle on the BBC.

‘They did everything towards the end there, probably the better side overall but it’s heartbreak for them. 

Gary Lineker expressed sympathy for Ukraine and feels the current qualification process is ‘flawed’

‘The first team to not make it through with four points, I do think this system is flawed at the moment. They need to look at it, I suspect, at some point.’

Lineker had some sympathy for Ukraine, but fans appeared to view things differently as they struggled to understand why the Eastern European nation had been unlucky when they finished bottom of their group.

‘Gary Lineker saying the system is flawed because Ukraine didn’t go through after finishing bottom of their group? What is he on about?’ one puzzled fan asked on X.

Another X user added: ‘Disagree with Lineker there about the system being ‘flawed’. Ukraine came 4th in the bloody group!’

Fans were having none of Lineker’s protests as one pointed out: ‘Ukraine finished 4th, bottom of the group. Finishing bottom of your group never means qualifying to the next round. They just had a tough group it happens.’

Meanwhile, another astonished fan wrote: ‘Gary Lineker has just said that a system where the team that finishes bottom of their group is “flawed”.’

Denmark and Slovenia made the last-16 with three points, but Ukraine earning four points was not enough

Ukraine created Euros history on Wednesday, becoming the first country to earn four points but still exit at the group stages since the new 24-team format was introduced in 2016.

Denmark and Slovenia have progressed from Group C despite only taking three points from their matches, but four points was not enough for Ukraine.